First of all, slice the carrots or cut them up into fine ribbons, matchsticks or batons. Put them into a bowl with the coriander leaves and the sesame or poppy seeds. To make the dressing, finely grate the zest of the orange into a bowl. Add the orange juice, the juice of 1½ lemons and about 4 times that amount of extra virgin olive oil. Pound your toasted sesame seeds to a pulp in a pestle and mortar, then add to the dressing. Mix well, then season to taste with salt, pepper and possibly more lemon juice to make it nice and zingy so that you can taste it once you've dressed the salad. Once your salad is dressed, the flavour of the lemon will lessen, so get eating straight away.

My apologies to Linda, Ann and Catherine, as I forgot to photograph the desserts they brought along. I hope Mags will soon be posting about Herman and the Sourdough Cake though!

Monday night was also calorie-laden – yet more cakes at Hookery

Mags, you and your friends have certainly fed us very well. Thanks! [Bob and I noticed that in NI there are many, many churches- and a high proportion have posters outside advertising Slimming World]

Herman the German (sourdough cake) has been making his way through our church and school too. He is really lovely. We found that when you get tired of making him, a portion of the basic batter will freeze and will reactivate readily once thawed.

I was fascinated to find that every Herman I tried, tasted different - not just due to the different fruits that people used but the basic texture was different too.

Intrigued that Jo [west midlands] and SV [Durham] are also both enjoying Herman Cakes at the minute. I remember making a similar 'friendship cake' back in London in the 1980's.Are these two - and the NI one all from an 'original' batch somewhere? The information about freezing is useful to know.

Also very glad to know about the freezing- we're only on Day 6 but already I'm a bit worried about the sustainability! Very perceptive link between our church culture and Slimming Stuff.... A second Herman batch arrived on my doorstep yesterday, but it was instantly outfarmed to Kids and Capers!!

About Me

Preacher, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, craftswoman. Married to wonderful Pastor Bob since 1979, now happily settled and busy in Dorset. I am blessed with two wonderful grown-up daughters and a darling grand-daughter